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Mac OS X Lion one step closer to it’s debut

Apple has released the first developer preview of its Lion OS for the Mac. It has also updated it’s Lion features page with more details of Lion, including AirDrop, a method zero-configuration of wireless file sharing between Macs; a global auto-save, which automates the saving of your and Versions, which automatically saves versions of documents you’re working on and provides a Time Machine-like interface for browsing them.

Here’s what Apple says about AirDrop:

Send it by air.

With AirDrop in Mac OS X Lion, you can send files to anyone around you — wirelessly. AirDrop doesn’t require setup or special settings. Just click the AirDrop icon in the Finder sidebar, and your Mac automatically discovers other people nearby who are using AirDrop. You’ll even see contact photos for those who are already in your Address Book. To share a file, simply drag it to someone’s name. Once accepted, the file transfers directly to the person’s Downloads folder. When you’re done with AirDrop, close the Finder and your Mac is no longer visible to others.

As for FileVault:

A new level of security.

Keep all the data on your Mac even more secure with XTS-AES 128 data encryption at the disk level. Initial encryption is fast and unobtrusive — it encrypts everything in the background while you work. FileVault also encrypts for your external drives, and provides the ability to wipe all the data from your Mac instantaneously.

Other features:

• Launchpad – gives you instant access to your apps — iPad style.

• Full screen apps – every app is displayed full screen, with no distractions

• Mission Control – a powerful and handy new feature that provides you with a comprehensive look at what’s running on your Mac.

• Gestures – Multi-Touch gestures make everything you do easy and intuitive, just like on the iPad!

• Resume – lets you restart your Mac — after a software update, for example — and return to what you were doing.

• Mail 5 – features a new layout that takes advantage of the widescreen display on your Mac.

• Conversations – a natural new way to read and manage email that automatically groups messages from the same conversation — even if the subject changes along the way.

The release of Lion is still scheduled for this summer. I for one can’t wait.